now, president obama and the senate republican leaders say they are close to a deal to prevent tax hikes on the middle class. the trouble is, the house has gone home and won't be voting on anything tonight. >> for now, our most immediate priority is to stop taxes going up for middle class families starting tomorrow. i think that is a modest goal that we can accomplish. >> we all want to protect taxpayers, and we can get it done now. right now. >> trace: officials tell fox news agreement would let tax cuts expire on $450,000 instead of the president's cut off $250,000. extend unemployment benefits for another year it does not include any new spending cuts. of course, that's the other big issue in this fiscal cliff standoff. we have team fox coverage. mike emanuel is live on capitol hill. but first to ed henry at the white house. ed, it looks as if we are taking the plunge. >> it does, trace. but what i think the white house is hoping here tonight is that lawmakers are going to have some framework by midnight tonight that basically says votes as soon as tomorrow or maybe even in early wee